Leopardstown Day Three Preview

The first race of the day is the 2 mile 4 furlong Maiden Hurdle that sees some very clever youngsters go to pot that could turn out to be the next hurdling superstars of the season.

Jon Snow for trainer Willie Mullins comes from top connections and although an unknown entity having only ran once, is thought of very highly from people within his yard.

The four year old started his career last season over in France on the flat racing three times, racing moderately on his first two outings but when stepped up in trip got off the mark.

He was bought by Rich Ricci and given to Willie Mullins where he made his debut back in November at Cork finishing third in a 24 runner field.

The form of that win looks to be fairly strong with second place since going on to land his next contest and off the back of that Jon Snow if being progressive could be a smart prospect.

27 runners head to post for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle and in a race normally like this we like to have two selections but we feel so strongly about this horse that we have opted for just the one.

Ronald Pump for trainer Matthew Smith is a class act that has shown his versatility over both fences and hurdles winning races over both obstacles.

This season he has been chasing winning on his first crack at the bigger timber and latest he finished a good second behind Fakir D'oudairies who is a star.

Over hurdles last season Ronald Pump was a model of consistency taking his final two contests of the season in similar three mile events and that makes him a huge player once more coming back to this event.

The Beginners Chase at Leopardstown on day three of the courses Christmas meeting sees some of the stars of last seasons staying novice hurdling scene.

Allaho for trainer Willie Mullins has been very lightly raced for a five year old only having four starts for the trainer since joining the yard in 2018.

The gelding was a superb hurdler scoring on his second start for the yard at Clonmel on his first attempt at three miles showing that staying was his game.

He headed straight to Cheltenham finishing a valiant third in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle and then finishing again behind the winner Minella Indo in three mile Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

He was bought to become a chaser and going over his ideal trip in perfect soft conditions make him tough to beat if taking to fences straight away.

The first of the Grade One action at Leopardstown on Saturday comes in the Frank Ward Memorial Hurdle over three miles and Bacardys for Willie Mullins again is our selection.

The eight year old is having a full campaign over hurdles this season and that has set him up nicely so far with his seasonal debut and latest run looking the best form on offer.

He landed a huge shock on his first start of the campaign when romping to victory in the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle at Navan seeing off Apple's Jade with ease.

Bacardys then went to Fairyhouse for the Grade One Hatton's Grace Hurdle and was beaten by one of the most anticipated horses this season in Honeysuckle.

There was no shame in that defeat and now stepping up to three miles makes him even more of a player with stamina on his side.

NO BET

The final black type contest of the afternoon is the prestigious Savills Chase over three miles and we think it will be very hard to take last year's winners title away from him.

Kemboy last season was just remarkable starting his season off at Clonmel in the Grade Two Oil Chase and easing to victory to suggest that this season he looks a far more mature horse.

He showed this again when stepping up to three miles in last year's contest and was brilliant landing the Grade One, beating what looked like would be his rivals in the Gold Cup.

The only mishap he made all season was in the Cheltenham contest where he was highly touted to go well for Willie Mullins but at the first fence unseated his rider David Mullins making for a huge anti-climax.

He finished the season off smartly though, having not really getting a run out at Cheltenham he went to Aintree fit as a fiddle and romped to victory in the Betway Bowl to land his second Grade One of the season.

The Punchestown Gold Cup was his final race of the season and what a race it turned out to be with both of the Mullins runners battling it out to the finish and Kemboy seeing off his stablemate Al Boum Photo to take the race.

After all of the paperwork has now been sorted with the horses old owners, he is allowed back on track and at a course he knows well he should give another strong run.

The final runner of the day from us comes in the two mile bumper contest and to top a superb day off for leading trainer Willie Mullins we fancy his runner Ferny Hollow.

Cheveley Park Stud had the bumper scene under control last season with Malone Road who was unbeaten before getting injured but they still went on the land the Champion Bumper at the festival with Envoi Allen.

This season they have handed the baton on to this four year old that looks a highly promising athlete who finished second on his debut at Fairyhouse in a 17 runner field and will only come on for that experience in this one.